Welcome to the first New Music Friday of 2026, where we round-up all the week’s releases from metalcore, hardcore, alternative and indie. For a full view of what’s coming up, check out our release calendar a look to see what other releases are coming up. The NMF playlist can be found here or at the bottom of the page.
STAFF PICKS
away with words – Taste Blood (Single)
Label – Blackheaven Records
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Jack recommends: away with words seemingly spawned out of nothing in 2024, dropping a stellar debut EP and quickly becoming a staple within the emo/scramz revival. With surprise single “Taste Blood“, they see themselves shooting higher once more. Catchy emo cleans contrast against shrill distorted screams, fighting back and forth in juxtaposition to one-another. Nostalgia distilled, “Taste Blood” sees the band stepping up once more, and has us excited for what else they may hold in store for 2026.
concealer. – …And the Sunlight Spoke (Single)
Label – Zegema Beach Records
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Jack recommends: Florida metalcore upstarts, concealer., returned this week, dropping brand new single “…And the Sunlight Spoke”. Hinted to be a part of something more, the track is the band’s most varied piece yet, with erratic screams matching blistering instrumentals, ambient sections with ethereal cleans, and an infectious chorus to top it all off. This, paired with their already otherworldly lyrical storytelling, has allowed concealer., once again, to prove why they’re one of the US’s hottest upcoming metalcore acts right now.
Days Spent – Spilled Salt (Single)
Label – Independent
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Joe recommends: While busy in the live circuit, it’s been a while since we heard anything from Days Spent on record, thankfully, that wait is now over with the blistering track “Spilled Salt“. Brimming with vicious intent from the crash that rings through the ear and riffs that that demand to played at a higher volume, all commanded by the caustic barks of Crozier that go for the jugular.
dream fatigue – be your anchor (Single)
Label – DAZE
(Spotify/Apple Music)
Joe recommend: dream fatigue unveil their signing to DAZE records with new single “be your anchor“, a tightening of the production brings everything great about this unit further to the surface, neat drum grooves and delightful singing that has the potential to be some of the most impressive in the genre.
METAL/CORE RELEASES
Gorepot – Mixed in a Lot of Soy Sauce
Label – Fat Tub Of Lard Records x Brutal Mind Worldwide
nervous light of sunday – Lack of sympathy
Label – Fairly social press
Closed Hands – The Affliction Without… (EP)
Label – Screamosh
eyesofsorrow, Khopesh. & xMERCYx – Divine Convergence (EP)
Label – Independent
Heavens Die & Sinister Feeling – Split (EP)
Label – Delayed Gratification Records
Paleface Swiss – The wilted (EP)
Label – Independent
Deterialist – Erasure (EP)
Label – Independent
Calm and Secure – It Fell From The Sky… (Single)
Label – Wax Vessel
cellardoor – shagbark (Single)
Label – Independent
Glass Grave – Death of a Dream (Single)
Label – Independent
PARAMENA – TSUKUYOMI.dll (Single)
Label – Independent
xEIGHT-SIXEDx – Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole (Single)
Label – Independent
The Sink – Voices Like Sirens (Single)
Label – Independent
Brains Outward – Hypocrite (Single)
Label – Independent
Olhava – When the Ashes Grow Cold (Single)
Label – Avantgarde Music
Lionheart – Ice Cold (Single)
Label – Arising Empire
Sanity Slip – Reflections (Single)
Label – Bayway Records
sonia is dead – 19 (Single)
Label – Independent
406 – Silent Heaven (Single)
Label – No Match Records
andwhentheskywasopened – Significance in Absence (Single)
Label – Independent
Cruelty – The Shape of Absence (Single)
Label – Independent
HARDCORE RELEASES
Feels Like Heaven – Within Dreams
Label – Scheme
Anathematize – BLOODLETTING (EP)
Label – DBD Records
Fools Die – Demo II (EP)
Label – Independent
Preemptive Strike – Promo 2026 (EP)
Label – STTW-Records
Corrective Measure – If Only in This Moment… (EP)
Label – Independent
Exit Life – Impurity Consumes (Single)
Label – Armageddon Records
Master Killer – PROMO ’26 (Single)
Label – Independent
You Die First – Humanity (Single)
Label – Independent
Rules of Engagement – Southeast Beast (Single)
Label – Independent
Skull Gate – K.O.M (Single)
Label – Lifers Records
Take Your Guilt – Hungry Dogs Run Faster (Single)
Label – Independent
King Nine – On the wire (Single)
Label – DAZE
POST-HARDCORE/ROCK RELEASES
Capillary – In Remembrance
Label – 51st State Records
Lilac Kings – The Weight of Things
Label – LIFE OR DEATH
death_on_impact – B-Sides (Demo Versions)
Label – Independent
Hone – Meridian (EP)
Label – Criminalized SFV
Young Mountain – Heavenly Skin (EP)
Label – ANTI EARTH
heavyheaded – the reverie in walking away (EP)
Label – HHUSA
Bad Luck. – Shovel (Single)
Label – Independent
Muttering – Saturday Afternoon (Single)
Label – Independent
Tally Spear – Upside Down (Single)
Label – Nettwerk Music Group
Tiny Voices – Airports 2.0 (Single)
Label – Independent
Grail Guard – People Just Like You (Single)
Label – TNS
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE/SHOEGAZE RELEASES
Soft Kill – Collection One
Label – Lamer World
Blanket – Leaning on You (Single)
Label – Adventure Cat Records
dead fave – The Sea Forgot Us (Single)
Label – Independent
Ergo, Bria – January (Single)
Label – Joyce Records
Timesgone – hard to find (feat. cautio) (Single)
Label – Independent
Fluent Panic – Stuck Inside (Single)
Label – Independent
Ladytron – Caught in the Blink of an Eye (Single)
Label – Nettwerk Music Group
Sxnctuary – Detached (Single)
Label – Independent